#240 – Neal Stephenson: Sci-Fi, Space, Aliens, AI, VR & the Future of Humanity

Guillaume Verdon (aka Beff Jezos on Twitter) is a physicist, quantum computing researcher, and founder of e/acc (effective accelerationism) movement. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack – Notion: https://notion.com/lex – InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off – AG1: https://drinkag1.com/lex to get 1 month supply of fish oil Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/guillaume-verdon-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Guillaume Verdon Twitter: https://twitter.com/GillVerd Beff Jezos Twitter: https://twitter.com/BasedBeffJezos Extropic: https://extropic.ai/ E/acc Blog: https://effectiveaccelerationism.substack.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (09:18) – Beff Jezos (19:16) – Thermodynamics (25:31) – Doxxing (35:25) – Anonymous bots (42:53) – Power (45:24) – AI dangers (48:56) – Building AGI (57:09) – Merging with AI (1:04:51) – p(doom) (1:20:18) – Quantum machine learning (1:33:36) – Quantum computer (1:42:10) – Aliens (1:46:59) – Quantum gravity (1:52:20) – Kardashev scale (1:54:12) – Effective accelerationism (e/acc) (2:04:42) – Humor and memes (2:07:48) – Jeff Bezos (2:14:20) – Elon Musk (2:20:50) – Extropic (2:29:26) – Singularity and AGI (2:33:24) – AI doomers (2:34:49) – Effective altruism (2:41:18) – Day in the life (2:47:45) – Identity (2:50:35) – Advice for young people (2:52:37) – Mortality (2:56:20) – Meaning of life

29 Dec 20230s

Teddy Atlas is boxing trainer to 18 world champions, ESPN boxing commentator, and host of podcast THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Notion: https://notion.com/lex – Babbel: https://babbel.com/lexpod and use code Lexpod to get 55% off – ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free – InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/teddy-atlas-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Teddy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/TeddyAtlasReal Teddy’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/teddy_atlas Teddy’s Website: https://teddyatlas.com/ Atlas: From the Streets to the Ring (book): https://amzn.to/48uIQBj Teddy’s Podcast: https://youtube.com/THEFIGHTwithTeddyAtlas Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation: http://dratlasfoundation.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (09:47) – Lessons from father (19:53) – Scar story (40:31) – Cus D’Amato (50:43) – Mike Tyson (2:08:39) – Forgiveness

24 Dec 20232h 15min

Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin. Thank you for listening ❤ Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Notion: https://notion.com/lex – Policygenius: https://policygenius.com/lex – MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lexpod to get 15% off – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings – InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/jeff-bezos-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Jeff’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jeffbezos Jeff’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeffbezos Amazon: https://amazon.com Blue Origin: https://blueorigin.com Invent and Wander (book): https://amzn.to/41bF2SY PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (08:53) – Texas ranch and childhood (12:31) – Space exploration and rocket engineering (25:05) – Physics (34:39) – New Glenn rocket (1:17:28) – Lunar program (1:27:24) – Amazon (1:44:45) – Principles (2:03:25) – Productivity (2:14:03) – Future of humanity

14 Dec 20232h 20min

Lee Cronin is a chemist at University of Glasgow. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour – BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off – Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get $1 per month trial – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings – AG1: https://drinkag1.com/lex to get 1 month supply of fish oil Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/lee-cronin-3-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Lee’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecronin Lee’s Website: https://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/cronin/ Nature Paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06600-9 Chemify’s Website: https://chemify.io PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (09:37) – Assembly theory paper (30:06) – Assembly equation (43:19) – Discovering alien life (1:01:38) – Evolution of life on Earth (1:09:34) – Response to criticism (1:27:12) – Kolmogorov complexity (1:39:02) – Nature review process (1:59:56) – Time and free will (2:06:21) – Communication with aliens (2:28:19) – Cellular automata (2:32:48) – AGI (2:49:36) – Nuclear weapons (2:55:22) – Chem Machina (3:08:16) – GPT for electron density (3:17:46) – God

9 Dec 20233h 27min

Lisa Randall is a theoretical physicist at Harvard. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Babbel: https://babbel.com/lexpod and use code Lexpod to get 55% off – Notion: https://notion.com – SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex to get free security camera plus 20% off – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack – InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/lisa-randall-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Lisa’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/lirarandall Lisa’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/proflisarandall Lisa’s Website: https://www.physics.harvard.edu/people/facpages/randall Books: Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs: https://amzn.to/417cKZJ Knocking on Heaven’s Door: https://amzn.to/3R4LjLC Warped Passages: https://amzn.to/49Xcr85 Higgs Discovery: https://amzn.to/4a6sfWe PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (11:11) – Dark matter (30:02) – Extinction events (41:02) – Particle physics (56:16) – Physics vs mathematics

3 Dec 20230s

Michael Malice is a political thinker, podcaster, author, and anarchist. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Policygenius: https://www.policygenius.com/ – MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/lexpod to get 15% off – Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get $1 per month trial – BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/michael-malice-7-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelmalice Michael’s Community: https://malice.locals.com Michael’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MichaelMaliceofficial Michael’s Website: http://michaelmalice.com/about Your Welcome podcast: https://bit.ly/30q8oz1 Jake Michael Singer (sculptor): https://instagram.com/jakemichaelsinger Books: The White Pill: http://whitepillbook.com The Anarchist Handbook: https://amzn.to/3yUb2f0 The New Right: https://amzn.to/34gxLo3 Dear Reader: https://amzn.to/2HPPlHS PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (10:15) – Beauty and mantis shrimp (14:43) – Parrots, Pirates, and Monty Python (20:55) – Humor and absurdity (28:16) – Thanksgiving (56:56) – Unboxing the mystery box (1:12:54) – Karl Marx and religion (1:21:11) – Art (1:25:25) – Books (1:38:02) – How to be happy (1:40:12) – Depression (1:41:15) – Fear (1:42:42) – Betrayal

25 Nov 20231h 47min

John Mearsheimer is an international relations scholar at University of Chicago. He is one of the most influential and controversial thinkers in the world on the topics of war and power. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – Notion: https://notion.com – ExpressVPN: https://expressvpn.com/lexpod to get 3 months free – InsideTracker: https://insidetracker.com/lex to get 20% off – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings – AG1: https://drinkag1.com/lex to get 1 month supply of fish oil Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/john-mearsheimer-transcript EPISODE LINKS: John’s Website: https://mearsheimer.com John’s Books: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics: https://amzn.to/3FWrqkX How States Think: https://amzn.to/3udaWST The Great Delusion: https://amzn.to/3syXKXS Why Leaders Lie: https://amzn.to/3ucs4rU The Israel Lobby: https://amzn.to/47fxrVU Books Mentioned: Leviathan: https://amzn.to/49zCFgu The End of History and the Last Man: https://amzn.to/47wTVBf Who Are We: https://amzn.to/3QXDk44 PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (09:52) – Power (33:06) – Hitler (50:33) – Russia and Ukraine (1:46:45) – Israel and Palestine (2:47:37) – China (3:29:58) – Life and mortality

18 Nov 20233h 35min

Elon Musk is CEO of X, xAI, SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Thank you for listening ❤ Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: – LMNT: https://drinkLMNT.com/lex to get free sample pack – Eight Sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/lex to get special savings – BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/lex to get 10% off – SimpliSafe: https://simplisafe.com/lex to get free security camera plus 20% off – Shopify: https://shopify.com/lex to get $1 per month trial – NetSuite: http://netsuite.com/lex to get free product tour Transcript: https://lexfridman.com/elon-musk-4-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Elon’s X: https://x.com/elonmusk xAI: https://x.com/xai Tesla: https://x.com/tesla Tesla Optimus: https://x.com/tesla_optimus Tesla AI: https://x.com/Tesla_AI SpaceX: https://x.com/spacex Neuralink: https://x.com/neuralink The Boring Company: https://x.com/boringcompany PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips SUPPORT & CONNECT: – Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast – Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman – Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexfridman – Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman OUTLINE: Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time. (00:00) – Introduction (10:25) – War and human nature (14:51) – Israel-Hamas war (20:59) – Military-Industrial Complex (25:16) – War in Ukraine (29:59) – China (44:15) – xAI Grok (55:13) – Aliens (1:03:13) – God (1:05:41) – Diablo 4 and video games (1:14:48) – Dystopian worlds: 1984 and Brave New World (1:20:59) – AI and useful compute per watt (1:26:40) – AI regulation (1:33:32) – Should AI be open-sourced? (1:40:54) – X algorithm (1:52:15) – 2024 presidential elections (2:05:14) – Politics (2:08:16) – Trust (2:13:47) – Tesla’s Autopilot and Optimus robot (2:22:46) – Hardships

9 Nov 20232h 27min